Factual assessment of Trump's work was not uncivil

Marty Fluke wrote a letter to the editor (“Anti-Trump columnist should have exhibited civility,” The Daily News, Dec. 22) where he said, “I’m disappointed The Daily News would print such a commentary. Shame on you!”

He was writing about a guest column by David Michael Smith (“Trump’s presidency one for history books,” The Daily News, Dec. 20).

Fluke talks about civility, but doesn’t question any of the facts presented by Smith. Furthermore, I don’t see any lack of civility in the column. I invite Marty Fluke to respond and show an example of the lack of civility.

I’ve heard Smith speak about seven to eight years ago, and I found him to be a modest, engaging speaker. Those in attendance crowded around him after he finished speaking to talk with him.

Newspapers typically print all sides of an issue without endorsing any side. In this case, they printed Fluke’s position, including “Shame on you!” (i.e., The Daily News.)

Trump is behaving like a spoiled brat: A partial government shutdown is still in effect with no end in sight, demanding that the wall (that the Mexicans were somehow going to pay for) is funded. That will not happen in the foreseeable future.

I don’t like to put these two words together: “President Trump,” because he doesn’t behave like a president. I prefer just “Trump,” or perhaps DDT.

Within the past month or two, we’re getting news about a potential impeachment. Would this be an example of “incivility?” Four past presidents have been impeached. President Nixon resigned before the impeachment process was completed. President Nixon accomplished something significant: He opened diplomatic relations with China. Can Trump claim any such positive action?

I believe that the billions of dollars spent on the wall would be wasted money. I think that the present wall and using drones would be adequate. If people want to enter the country, they’ll find a way to enter: by boats or airplanes. Do you like the way Trump has separated parents from their children? Unlike how Trump characterizes this, most people are only seeking a better life.

Trump thinks they’re all criminals: members of drug cartels, rapists, thieves and murderers. If Trump has his way, the “Dreamers” would all be deported. There have been people who paid big-time money to be brought over the border in large tractor trailers, and in some cases people have died in the process.

Consider all the people in the administration who have been fired or resigned. Try to think of any past presidency where this has happened. What about his cheating on income taxes? There are good reasons for his low approval ratings.

Watch this discussion.Stop watching this discussion.

(48) comments

The central theme of this article is apparently “civility.” Using conflict between article by “civil” Michael David Smith and the response by “uncivil” Marty Fluke Mr. Hodgson launches a diatribe castigating “spoiled brat” President Trump.The rest of this article is a reiteration straight from the pseudo journalist of CNN. Even the word president associated with the name Trump offends Mr. Hodgson’s sensitivity. Hodgson compares President Trump with President Nixon (both negotiated with China) in some convoluted association with accomplishments, resignation and impeachment. Obviously what he wants to convey is his wish that president Trump will go away. Resulting from his CNN impregnation Hudson declares Trump is a tax cheat (unproven). And Trump’s administration is falling apart (First 2 year turnover Reagan 57%, Trump 57%, Clinton, Bushes, Obama all between 25-38% }. And then prognosticator Hodgson reads Trumps mind with this quotation “Trump thinks they’re (immigrants all criminals: members of drug cartels, rapists, thieves and murderers.”After castigating Trump Hodgson demonstrates his benevolence by sympathizing and praising those who seek to illegally immigrate to America. Hodgson says, they are heroic and only seeking a better life. They paid big money and some risk get into life threatening trailers and die.Now it’s time to judge policies and procedures. Hodgson says that Trumps separates children from families. Evidently Hodgson is deficient in his knowledge in the history related to the immigration policies and procedures of previous administration.Though my opinions and others are diametrically opposed - Hopefully - We’re all sympathetic to those who are and even those who perceive themselves as victims. But across this planet the migration of human beings leaving with the expectation of entering a society where they will be recipients of largesse is wrong. Actually their escape is running away and surrendering their home land into the hands of the corrupt administration. Their escape leaves behind a weakened population not strong enough to fight corruption and eventually improve their homeland. Conversely their intrusion into an established society creates chaos. Life is full of choices. You can run or stay and flight

Looks like Stephen Hodgson did not read the comments to David Michael's column. David Michael's Column is full of errors, obfuscations, personal biased opinion. That's expected from a self-proclaimed Marxist, pro Mao and pro terrorist former college professor."There’s also mounting evidence that Trump and his minions accepted Russia’s assistance in the 2016 election and obstructed justice to cover this up. " Sorry, Stephen and David Michael this just isn't so."Trump is viewed by scores of millions of people as an illegitimate president, partly because he lost the popular vote and partly because of his grotesque bigotry, bullying and buffoonery."Perception is one thing, reality is another. Where do the "millions of people" get that impression? From the Leftist often wrong Press and politicians.So he lost the popular vote.... A Government/ History teacher would know that a president does not win by popular vote but through the Electoral College. But David Michael omits this. And former presidents have won the presidency but not the popular vote like George W. Bush in 2000. Calling Trump "illegitimate" for this reason is uncivil.

Mr. Hodgkin it is surprising to see a man of your age so negative towards our President. It is a shame. I suspect you have shown this negativity most of your life. It's never to late to change. I appear to be much older than you but I have chosen to look on the bright side of the mountain . I respectfully request you give it a try.Our President has done many great things for our country. Please don't turn your back on the positive things he's done. Listen to what he has to say today with an open mind. He is your President. I repeat ---- he is your president.

According to The Daily News, ‘Stephen Hodgson lives in Galveston.’ So Hodgkin lives in Galveston that is protected by a wall, but he thinks walls are a waste of money! Laughable.

Even funnier is Hodgson’s assertion that ‘Newspapers typically print all sides of an issue without endorsing any side.‘ The liberal media is the propaganda arm of the Democratic Party. Everything they do is anti-Trump and pro-Democrat.

Build The Wall. Without a border wall about 2,000 Americans die every year at the hands of illegal aliens due to open borders and mass illegal immigration. America needs and wants The Wall.

President Trump is standing up for all Americans. It is obvious that the Democrats are a party of open borders and crime. Apparently, they like the major Humanitarian Crisis on our Southern Border. Build The Wall now.

The border wall/barrier is NOT just about Mexican or Central American refugees. It is about the security and safety of the American people and their property. On January 10, 2019 the President and Senators Cornyn and Cruz were in McAllen,Texas and were given a briefing by a border patrol officer. The officer said that day they had arrested 450 illegals. 133 of those were not from Mexico or Central America but were from nations all over the world like India, Romania, Pakistan, China, and Ecuador to name a few. This is about the Mexican cartel, other terrorists & the safety of Americans. Farmers along the Texas border are in fear for their lives & property everyday! How much did 9/11 cost the United States? We need the southern border wall/barrier regardless of cost. Why doesn't the Democratic leadership want Americans to be protected? Even Ms. Pelosi has a wall around her home & property.

And the cost is NOTHING compared to the cost of NOT having physical barriers to illegal immigration. Plus, it's a GREAT way for our 'friends' down south to export their criminals.....Once they set foot on USA land, WE, ALL of us, start footing the bills for their education, medical, maternity pretty much forever after, and food and housing until 'released' into the country, on a promise to come back.....wink wink, nod nod....Oddly, so many wanting an Ike Dike 'wall' funded by taxpayers to protect a sinking sandbar that is strategically unimportant to the USA as a whole are cheerful about a guestimate of 30 Billion plus, just for that...to start.....

So, it's not money, it's 'resistance'....I'd bet a lifetime supply of cold Diet Coke that if BHO had proposed this, we'd already have several hundred new miles built, and 'shoveling' more daily......

The border wall/barrier is NOT just about Mexican or Central American refugees. It is about the security and safety of the American people and their property. On January 10, 2019 the President and Senators Cornyn and Cruz were in McAllen,Texas and were given a briefing by a border patrol officer. The officer said that day they had arrested 450 illegals. 133 of those were not from Mexico or Central America but were from nations all over the world like India, Romania, Pakistan, China, and Ecuador to name a few. This is about the Mexican cartel, other terrorists & the safety of Americans. Farmers along the Texas border are in fear for their lives & property everyday! How much did 9/11 cost the United States? We need the southern border wall/barrier regardless of cost. Why doesn't the Democratic leadership want Americans to be protected? Even Ms. Pelosi has a wall around her home & property.

I'm old enough to recall Kruschev banging on a podium with his shoe hollering "We will bury you!"Hard to believe with all the current hysteria, but that was before anyone ever heard of Donald Trump......

Anyway, IF either ever succeeds in what they've BEEN trying for the last 100 years, plus, it will be because WE LET THEM, being unable to ever again present a unified front against actual aggressors, being too busy being 'diverse'......Honest differences? Well, some of them.....IMO, as always

Bottom line, David Michael's column was not very factual and most uncivil. But even a self proclaimed Marxist, Mao loving, pro-terrorist former professor can express his or her opinion in this country. The column was opinion driven, not fact driven."Caveat lector" - let the reader beware

What many people in this country forget is that in the early years of our republic we had a very formidable "wall" that protected this country. It is called the Atlantic ocean. If we had been in closer proximity to Europe in the early years of this country our "grand experiment" in republican democracy would probably have been destroyed by invading European powers. Walls do work. It is common sense.

" It's true that the offensive was launched from Nova Scotia, but the troops were British regulars recently dispatched from Wellington's army fighting in Europe. They weren't Canadians in any meaningful sense. Canada was part of the British Empire at the time, but to say that "Canada burned down the White House" is a little like saying that Guam or American Samoa killed Osama bin Laden.

Thank you, Emile!Donald Trump says he as president will assume responsibility for shutdown. Emile then states Trump is responsible.Canada takes responsibility for the burning of Washington in 1814. They teach it in their schools, they boast it but then Emile posts they are not responsible."Emile trap" set and he is CAUGHT!

"Today We Celebrate the Time Canada Burned Down the White House"by Colin Schultz, freelance science writer and editor based in Toronto, Canada.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/today-we-celebrate-the-time-canada-burned-down-the-white-house-127844144/"Why do Canadians insist that they attacked Washington during the War of 1812?"https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Canadians-insist-that-they-attacked-Washington-during-the-War-of-1812"Teaching The War Of 1812 Different In U.S., Canada"https://1812news.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/teaching-the-war-of-1812-different-in-u-s-canada/"Canadians often do ― at times mockingly ― take credit for burning Washington in 1814 as it was in retaliation for the United States burning York, present-day Toronto, the previous year. "https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-canada-burn-white-house_us_5b18953de4b09578259ee281

My point is that in its early years America was protected by a natural wall that enabled this country to develop without foreign interference. There is nothing un-American about a wall, the one we relied on for so many years was a beautiful ocean. If it were not for the Atlantic ocean we would all be sitting in Pubs singing God Save the Queen and talking funny.

Thank you Mr. Ponce for providing links to support your claim that Canadians burned Washington. On reading your cited references the facts stand with Mr. Pope and Mr. Forsythe.With the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in April 1814, Earl of Bathurst dispatched an army brigade and additional naval vessels to Bermuda to conduct raids along the Atlantic seaboard to draw American forces away from Canada. The commander was Major General Ross - Under his command, 4,500 man army composed of: 4th King's Own Light, 21st Royal North British Fusiliers, 44th East Essex Regiment of Foot, and the 85th Regiment of Foot. Bermuda. On August 24th, 1814, Major General Robert Ross occupied Washington on orders from Rear Admiral George Cockburn, Naval commander and strategist based in Bermuda.https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Canadians-insist-that-they-attacked-Washington-during-the-War-of-1812

Dan, you just don't get it. It was a set up. The Canadians take credit for the burning of Washington is analogous to Donald Trump taking responsibility for closing government. Extending the analogy, Liberals say Trump is responsible for the shutdown therefore the Canadians must be responsible for the burning. I thought even a Dan Freeman was intelligent enough to figure it out AFTER I explained was a logic "trap". Guess not.

In the Oval Office President Trump made clear he would be "proud" to shut down the government in less than two weeks if he doesn't get funding for his border wall. "I'll be the one to shut it down. I will take the mantle. And I will shut it down for border security," "The trick in Washington has always been to make sure a government shutdown is pinned on the other guy. President Trump is the first to ever pin one on himself."

Trump had not been able to pass the wall when the Republican were in charge, but he now thinks it will happen? The Democrats are in charge of the House and he still needs 60 votes in the Senate.“If I needed the votes for the wall in the House, I would have them in one session. It would be done,” Trump said. Until he decides to bargain in good faith ,nothing will happen.

If I were holding out for the protection of American lives, I'd be "proud" too!"Until he decides to bargain in good faith ,nothing will happen."I wish you would look at either "Pawn Stars" or American Pickers". In a deal you offer a little when they want a lot. Then you meet in the middle. THAT'S NEGOTIATION! The Liberal idea of negotiation is to get EVERYTHING they want while Trump gets NOTHING. That's NOT negotiation.Trump has made an offer. Now tell the Democrats to come to the table and make their offer. No wall is a non-starter.

Actually the Democrats proposed reopening the government first. Then negotiate on immigration. donald insists on getting everything he wants before reopening the government. That’s not negotiating that’s extortion.

"Actually the Democrats proposed reopening the government first. Then negotiate on immigration."They pulled that trick on President Reagan in the 1980s. Reagan never got what the Democrats promised.Democrats will just kick it down the road past the 2020 elections and BEYOND.

If the President would say that this money will be the last I ever ask for, for funding the WALL would be one thing, But everyone knows he will comeback for more funding for the WALL next time funding is required for the government . Trump is requiring 5 million people to suffer because Trump will not fund part of the government not connected to the WALL. What does Trumps say by his actions, I will not give in unless they give me what I want, so I will make them suffer more. Trump said he wanted a shutdown, and now he has one. The new member of the House and the Senate can not set up their offices because of lack of funds. After the first of next month the pressure will be on, because people will start to be evicted from houses and more people will run out of money.Trump wants to not do what is necessary to come up with a bill that is OK with others. He prefers to bypass the process that is necessary to have a good bill. If he would do what others Presidents have done in the past, he would have a better chance of getting what he wants. Trump has taken Government workers and contractors hostage, at no fault of their own.

Mr. President you can have your wall. "Mr. President you can have your wall. You can get it the same way that President Obama got Obamacare; the way Lyndon Johnson got Medicare; the way Franklin Roosevelt got Social Security. In each case the president had a project he wanted enacted; so his administration crafted a bill. That bill went to Congress where committee hearings were held; amendments were proposed; studies were conducted that tested the cost, effectiveness etc. of the proposal; testimony was held in Congress; debate ensued and if the measure had enough support, a vote was taken and the measure was passed. That's how you legislate. It takes hard work, planning and the ability to actually negotiate. Your pet project doesn't get to leap frog over the pathway laid out by the Constitution and 250 years of precedent. You have chosen to skip over this entire process (even when you had majorities in both Houses) and have resorted instead to taking the American public hostage in exchange for your wall. You want a wall? Put down the gun you are holding to the head of the American people and get to work." Dan Rather

"You can get it the same way that President Obama got Obamacare....."Jim, I don't think we want to change the locks on the meeting room doors again, lie through our teeth about what we can and can't keep, hire Gruber again to "....depend on the gullibility of the average American'....", and 'pass the bill, so we can find out what's in it...then 'deem' it to have passed, actually so or not........Nope. No replays of THAT exercise in statesmanship, negotiating, and legislating....[beam][beam]The Pres. COULD go on vacation or off to some multi-day 'getaway - fact finding trip', but, that would be unseemly, would it not.....[whistling]

NONE of this matters anyway, because by this time in 2031 we'll all be DEAD DEAD DEAD......or, so says the duly elected new face of the 'resistance'...or the 'deranged', if accuracy is more important.....:

"Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., spoke out on Monday about the urgency to take on climate change, comparing it to World War II.Speaking at an event commemorating Martin Luther King Day, Ocasio-Cortez expressed how the issue of climate change is a “generational” issue that younger people are more focused on.“Millennials and people, you know, Gen Z and all these folks that will come after us are looking up and we’re like: ‘The world is gonna end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change and your biggest issue is how are we gonna pay for it?'" Ocasio-Cortez said."

12 YEARS!!!!!!!!AAaaaggghhhhh......No sense buying any extended warranties on new purchases.....[beam][beam]

I guess she, and supporters, wanted to give us a couple EXTRA years more to prepare than the TEN years that The 100 Million Dollar Man, Gore, gave us a couple decades or so ago.....[rolleyes][whistling][lol]

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.is already known too many, so she has accomplished getting her name know. How many other freshman House member can you name.She has been told to wait, you will get your time latter because she is a Freshman, and she has said she is elected and she will do her job. The job for the people who elected her, wants done. This is since January 3, 2019 . As you and I do not live in her district, she will have very little influence on how we are represented.She is part of the new wave of people coming to congress, that are not like the ones in the swamp, the group some want to get rid of.Is that not what some people want, people that are not old guard or swamp things?

George , I guess the House and Senate will never work anything out because of the past. If they do not sit down together, nothing will get done. As of today. they have started working together. This is the first step. It may not be long that they have a deal."Senate Republicans and Democrats on Tuesday offered the first glimmers of a potential resolution to the five-week partial government shutdown. The plan for the Senate to consider the dueling proposals reflects the first bipartisan action since the shutdown began on legislation that could end the impasse, offering each party a chance to press its proposal. "

Since ALL fortifications/walls/fences/barriers/locks/etc CAN be breached either by determined attempt or sometimes just by luck, does that prove they 'don't work'?

Really?

C'mon....ridiculous was passed long ago....

If anyone...anyone...really believes such don't work, then walk your talk and get rid of all in your possession and refuse to sue any others.Otherwise, you're just making noise....that can't be fixed....imo.....

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